Draw Me Close: Podcast - A Ministry of Whitestone Christian Fellowship, with Pastor Bob Lawrenz

Jesus’ death and resurrection is the single most important event in the history of our faith. Without it, we would have no hope. When Jesus rose from the dead, He conquered death forever and completed God’s plan for restoring us to a right relationship with the Father. Praise God! As we look at Christ’s followers, we see two main responses to Christ’s work on the cross and His resurrection: worshi...

As we begin chapter 2 of Esther, we are introduced to the one whom the book obtains its title from, Esther. She arises from humble surroundings, a young Jewish orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, to be the new Queen of Persia after she gains the favor of King Ahasuerus and his eunuchs. Following Mordecai's advice, she conceals her Jewish heritage. Additionally, Mordecai uncovers a plot to as...

On the third day after His death on the cross, some of Jesus’ female followers reached the tomb, only to find it empty. Sadness hit Mary Magdelene in particular, and she asked the Gardener where Jesus’ body had been taken. She had already spoken to two men inside the tomb, and they just said,  “He is not here.”

We meet Esther in chapter 2, verse 9 as a maiden. In the Hebrew, the word is “na’ara” which is a young woman of marrying age, but the word is also used to describe a girl from toddler to adolescent age. So as customary in the middle east, her description fits a young girl up to her adolescent years, and who is eligible for marriage. She would be as the Virgin Mary, perhaps 11 or 12 years old. In c...

The Book of Esther tells the story of a Jewish girl who becomes Queen of Persia and risks her life to save her people from a genocide plot. Esther and her cousin Mordecai outwit the villainous Haman, turning his plan to destroy the Jews into his own downfall, establishing the festival of Purim, and highlighting God's providence and sovereignty. In Esther, all of God's unconditional covenan...

Last week’s look at Ancient Eelam was due to current events in Iran, which used to be called Persia. But the Persian Empire didn't begin until around 550 BC. The oldest culture we know of in Iran was the Eelamites. They flourished from around 6000 years ago; as old as the world's oldest known civilizations in nearby Sumer (or Sumeria) in southern Iraq today. The main cities of Eelam were A...

This week we are continuing our 2026 Prophecy Update from  Jeremiah 49:34-39  - looking once again at the prophecies concerning Elam, or modern-day Iran. Biblical prophecies concerning Iran (Biblical Persia/Elam) often focus on its role in end-times conflicts, particularly in  Ezekiel 38-39  as part of a coalition that seeks to destroy the Jews and Israel. As we look at  Jeremiah 49:34-39 , Jeremi...

This week we are continuing our 2026 Prophecy Update in Genesis 6:5-15 and 7:1-12.  "As in the days of Noah" is a biblical phrase from Matthew 24:37-39 and Luke 17:26-27, where Jesus compares the time before his return to the pre-flood era. It describes a society marked by extreme corruption, violence, and utter disregard for God, with people living in normalcy—eating, drinking, and marr...

We are people of habits, and we do not like changes, or upheavals in our lives. We like to have “all our ducks up in a rowe” way in advance. We write dates and times on our calendars to minimize surprises, and to not be late for appointments. It puts us on a schedule that simply makes it easier to get through each day, week, and month. We like seeing what is in store for us. . .

Continuing on in our Prophecy Update series, Zechariah 9:8–10:4 prophesies God’s protection of Jerusalem amidst regional judgment, culminating in the arrival of a humble, just Messianic King who brings global peace (9:9, 10).  While Zechariah 9:9 belongs to the first coming of Jesus, Zechariah 9:10 is associated with the second coming of Jesus, when He comes in power and glory to reign over this e...

In 2 Peter 3:3-4, we read of scoffers that mock the Lord’s promise to come again after His ascension to Heaven. They shall appear in the last days, full of themselves and their wisdom.  “Where is the promise of His coming?” The scoffers grew impatient, noting that everything continues as in the days of their forefathers, and as it has been since the days of Creation. Since the Apostles heard of th...

This week we are continuing a Prophecy Update as we finish Zechariah chapter 8 and begin chapter 9.  The view that the Jewish people are a curse on the world will be completely changed into being the blessing they were always meant to be. The Lord has given us a sneak preview of things to come.  Our future hope. Israel's salvation. The promises of God will be fulfilled. Instead of mourning the...

Jesus said in the New Testament, Mark 2:27 (Exodus 23:12 & Deuteronomy 5:14) that the sabbath was created for man, not man for the sabbath. In Exodus 31:16, God directed the Jews to keep the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. God taught His children through His own example, 6 days to work, then one day of rest, just as He did during the days of creation. . .

This week, we are meeting on Sunday, February 22nd, the birthday of George Washington, called “Father-of-Our-Country.” He was our first President, but he did not bring about our birth alone. It is an honorary title only, because there were many that went before him to begin the fight for freedom. He was not even present in Philadelphia when the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 177...

This week we are continuing a Prophecy Update as we take a look at Zechariah chapter 8. The view that the Jewish people are a curse on the world will be completely changed into being the blessing they were always meant to be.

The media has changed since the World Wars of the 20th Century. Once they used to show us films of human atrocities to say, “never again.” The media now shows us what they want us to see, an agenda noting their favorites, and denigrating whom they view as their enemy. They do not want us to see atrocities again. It’s the NEWS that they’d like to see occur, and it is bent around a few wealthy minds...

Ezekiel 39:14-29 describes the aftermath of a massive, failed invasion of Israel in the "latter days". The passage focuses on the cleansing of the land, the disposal of the invaders' bodies, and the subsequent spiritual restoration of Israel, marking a, defining moment where God manifests His glory and holiness to all nations.

Ezekiel 39’s first half of the chapter left us a with clear understanding of the strong devastation coming as God’s Judgment falls upon the armies of Gog and her allies as they invade the Holy Land. These armies, mentioned in the previous chapter, represent much of the political power in a Christ-rejecting world. The whole world will feel the impact, but geographically, the battle takes place in t...

At the start of this new year, Pastor Bob is taking us through the scriptures revealing Biblical Prophecy regarding current and future events in the world, and the role of Israel in the last days. This week we are beginning chapter 39 of Ezekiel's prophecy.  Join us as Pastor Bob  breaks down Ezekiel's prophecy regarding the war of Gog and Magog.  Ezekiel 39:1-13 is a prophecy of a future, large-s...

The 3rd week of our Prophecy Update Series opens with Ezekiel 39. It opens with an almost identical verse as the previous chapter. The only difference is that in Chapter 38, it is Jehovah directing the Son of Man (Christ) what to speak to Gog, and Magog, that nation north of the Caucasus Mountains between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. In Ezekiel 39:1, it is the Son of Man speaking those words...

Join us for this Bible Prophecy Update as we continue in Ezekiel 38.  Pastor Bob  breaks down Ezekiel's prophecy regarding the war of Gog and Magog.  Last week we looked at prophetic rebirth of Israel as a nation, Jews coming to faith in Jesus the Messiah, and growing antisemitism around the world, who the players are in the coming invasion of Israel, and the reason for it.     This week we wi...

Now that we have undertaken a Prophecy Update Series, things are heating up around the world. Venezuela, Switzerland, and Iran are in the news this week. Scour the news sites to stay abreast of current events, and more so, current events that will impact our faith and understanding of Bible Prophesy. Our faith might be challenged at times. . .

At the start of this new year, Pastor Bob will take us through the scriptures revealing Biblical Prophecy regarding current and future events in the world, and the role of Israel in the last days.  Join us for this Bible Prophecy Update and study in Ezekiel 38.  Pastor Bob will break down Ezekiel's prophecy regarding the war of Gog and Magog, the prophetic rebirth of Israel, Jews coming to fai...

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Many are wondering what lays ahead for us in the year ahead, and the future, in general. Matthew 24 and Luke 21 speak of the end times and describes the social, political, climatic, and even financial troubles that will plague all the Earth at that time. Matthew also says this:  “And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must co...

This morning, we are continuing on in Luke chapter 2, the message of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  In Luke 2, the primary hearers of God's message are the shepherds, who receive angelic news of Jesus' birth and then share it, causing others (Mary, Joseph, and the general populace) to marvel. . .